Protection device



March 18, 1969 STROUD 3,432,959

PROTECTION DEVICE Filed Nov. 15, 1967 INVENTOR.

L j 501mm 1. Sim/o nited States Patent 3,432,959 PROTECTION DEVICE Benjamin L. Stroud, Hiway 80 East, Forest, Miss. 39079 Filed Nov. 15, 1967, Ser. No. 683,184 US. CI. 4384 Int. Cl. A01m 27/00 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device to be placed in a cut in a beaver built dam and includes a frame member suspended between upright poles positioned on each side of the cut. The frame has mounted thereon a cartridge which is disposed in the path of a firing arm. A trigger arm releasably operated by a beaver releasably holds the firing arm in set position against the bias of a spring.

Summary of the invention Brief description of the drawings In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my device;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a detail side view of the cartridge firing mechanism.

Detailed description preferred embodiment Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown first and second vertical poles 10 extending upward in a cut in a dam above the water level 12.

A frame comprising first, second and third parallel hori zontal bars 14, 16 and 18 are positioned in an inclined plane and are secured between parallel inclined transversely extending end members 20. A V shaped member 22 is secured to each member 20 and is secured at its vertex to a corresponding pole by a strap 24. These two vertices are joined by a horizontally extending member 26.

Bolts 28 extending between bars 14 and 16 hold a blank cartridge or bullet carrying cartridge 30 detachably in place.

An elongated member 32 extending transversely of the frame is secured pivotally by hinge 34 at one end to the mid point of member 26. A vertically inclined member 36 is pivotally secured at a point intermediate its ends by loop 38 to rod 18. A compression spring 40 is secured at one end to hinge 34 and at the other end to member 36 at a point intermediate loop 38 and its upper end. The upper end of member 36 carries cartridge striking means 42. The bottom end of member 36 has a notch 44 normally engaging catch 46 on the other end of member 32 when this end is in the position shown in FIG. 2 and in solid line in FIG. 3, with trigger wire 48 connecting this end to net 50 disposed in the water.

As a beaver approaches and weighs down the net, wire 48 pulls catch 46 downward, releasing member 36 whereby the spring pulls member 36 to move means 42 into firing contact with the cartridge whereby the cartridge is fired and the beaver is either driven off or killed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device for inhibiting the action of beavers in building dams, said device comprising:

a frame adapted to be suspended between two vertical poles;

an explosive cartridge removably disposed in the frame;

a first elongated member secured at one end to said frame and extending transversely thereto, the other end of said member having a catch;

a second elongated member extending inclinedl upwards, the bottom end of the second member being normally held by the catch, the top end of the second member having cartridge striking means;

a compression spring connected between said one end of the first member and a point on said second member intermediate its ends;

means pivotally securing said second member at a point intermediate the spring and the bottom end of the second member to said frame; and

means connected to the other end of the first member to release said catch in the presence of a beaver whereby said striking means strikes the cartridge and fires same to drive off or kill the beaver.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to the other end of the first member includes a net and a wire connecting the net to said other end whereby the weight of a beaver on the net pushes same down and causes said wire to pull the other end of the first member downward to release the catch.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said frame includes a plurality of spaced apart horizontal elongated bars secured between oppositely disposed end members, said second member being pivotally secured to one of said bars.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 wherein the striking means acts as a firing pin.

5. A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said one end of the first member is pivotally secured to said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 967,026 8/1910 Lindsey 4384 1,144,545 6/1915 Hoffman 4384 2,248,157 7/1941 Barnes 43-84 WARNER H. CAMP, Primary Examiner. 

